I-494, 169 ramps set to open this morning

Drivers hoping that Tuesday would bring the opening of ramps from eastbound Interstate 494 to Washington Avenue and from Washington Avenue to southbound Hwy. 169 had to wait another day.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation said that those ramps will now open Wednesday. The agency blamed the delayed opening on inclement weather.

Over the weekend, a couple of ramps at the busy Eden Prairie intersection did open as planned. They include a ramp from Marth Road, which runs parallel to I-494 on the freeway's south side, to eastbound 494. A new roundabout on Marth Road at the intersection also opened.

Access to Hwy. 169 at Highwood Drive has been permanently closed. Drivers on northbound 169 will be routed to the new roundabout and frontage road, so they can still exit the highway before getting to 494.